Let's take a look at Toph Beifong's skill tree.
Here we can further break down all of the skills that make Toph
an earthbending master.
To begin, we see Toph demonstrate
the fundamental technique, a solid stance.
The key to earthbending is your stance.
You've got to be steady and strong.
Rock is a stubborn element.
If you're going to move it,
you've got to be like a rock yourself.
Like a rock, got it.
Good. Now, the actual motion of this one is pretty simple.
Okay. You ready to give it a try?
I'm ready.
[groaning]
Rock beats airbender.
Apart from being steady and strong,
Toph learned to become more agile and aggressive.
You've got to stop thinking like an airbender.
There's no different angle, no clever solution,
no tricky trick that's gonna move that rock.
You've got to face it head on.
And when I say head on, I mean, like this.
[grunting]
Whoa.
Rock spikes became Toph's go to move
as it can be used as offense, defense and even training.
[groaning]
[grunting]
[groaning]
The best offense is a good defense.
Toph can block other elemental attacks
and can even deflect bombs.
[grunting]
Speaking of defense, one of the sweetest skills
Toph showed Aang was how to use earthbending
to create a suit of armor.
[gasping]
[groaning]
[grunting]
Earth armor is a skill we've seen Aang use a lot
in his journey.
But protecting your own body is only the beginning.
Here Toph demonstrates how to use earthbending
to completely blindside her opponent.
[rumbling]
[screaming]
[groaning]
Once I whip up some cover, you're not gonna be able to see.
So stay close to me.
Run!
[squeaking]
Hey, look at that dust cloud.
It's so... poofy. Poof.
Don't underestimate this young earthbender.
At just 12 years old,
she mastered the combative side of earthbending.
She took her skills to the arena
where she became the Earth Rumble champion.
But she had barely scratched the surface.
[sighing]
What I'd give to be a metalbender.
Shortly after meeting the Avatar,
she developed a new technique
that her fellow benders believed to be impossible.
If you open your mind, you will see
that all the elements are one, four parts of the same whole.
Even metal is just a part of earth
that has been purified and refined.
[breathing]
Come on, metal. Budge.
Whoo! Toph, you rule.
Once Toph discovered metalbending,
she quickly learned how to mold the element
like a piece of clay.
I am so glad we added you to the group.
Toph, metalbend the rudder
so it's jammed in the turning position.
The ship will spiral and slam into the others.
Got it!
[grunting]
[groaning]
Have I ever mentioned how sweet it is
that you invented metalbending?
You could stand to mention it more.
Just like her earth armor, Toph can now form
a full metal suit around her body
that is tough yet agile.
[banging]
[groaning]
That's how it's done.
After forming the Republic City police force,
Toph developed a new metalbending tool
used to apprehend criminals.
It's over. You're under arrest, Yakone.
What is Republic City coming to?
Used to be a man could enjoy his lunch in peace.
[groaning]
What's the big idea?
We have dozens of witnesses, Yakone.
We know what you are.
Take him away.
Mastering metalbending was one of Toph's
more historic milestones. The metal wires used
by the Republic City police became a staple tool
on the force.
Metalbending was also used as a utility,
to build entire cities, like Zaofu.
Speaking of utility, earthbending can be used
for a lot more than combat.
By interacting with the ground,
Toph can not only shift where you stand,
but can also bury herself like a badger mole.
Wait. Huh. Huh.
[groaning]
I thought you guys could use a little help.
Thanks.
Rock-like! [groaning]
[groaning]
Everyone into the hole!
[Sokka] It's so dark down here.
I can't see a thing.
[Toph] Oh, no, what a nightmare.
[Sokka] Sorry.
Landslides are a powerful force of nature.
And only an earthbending master
can create a landslide that runs uphill.
[screaming]
[groaning]
Earthbending led to advancemens in transportation,
like the trains at Ba Sing Se.
Here Toph can manipulate the ground
to help her skate across vast distances.
I am the greatest earthbender in the world!
Don't you two dunderheads ever forget it.
Need a ride?!
[groaning]
Ooh.
Toph can take transportation another step further.
By using her bending to reach all new heights.
Now what's so big that Appa has to wait?
That.
[screaming]
Seriously, we're actually on your guy's side!
[screaming]
Sorry.
Like the other elements,
earth has plenty of sub-elements, like mud,
which can be bent for combat... or just for fun.
[screaming]
[laughing]
[groaning]
Uh!
[croaking]
Another fun method of earthbending is sandbending,
which Toph used to become the best sand sculptor
in the world.
Check out my Appa sand sculpture.
[grunting]
Not bad, baldy.
But I've been working on my sandbending.
You're going to love this.
Whoa.
Wow. You even made a little Earth King and Bosco.
Finally, a great way to utilize earthbending
when traveling the world,
is creating a strong, yet comfy earth tent.
Katara, I'm fine. I can carry my own weight.
I don't need a fire.
I've already collected my own food and look...
my tents all set up.
Aang, get some rags. Sokka, water.
Toph, I need you to make an earth tent, a big one.
Suki, come with me.
Toph consistently demonstrates
how practical earthbending can be
in everyday life, not just in combat.
But there's one final category
that's exclusive to earthbending.
[grunting]
Whoa.
Ah.
Ooh!
[groaning]
Toph can use vibrations to feel a person's heartbeat
and breathing.
She can even identify a specific person
based solely on their distinct heartbeat.
[groaning]
Get away from us!
[groaning]
Someone's at the door.
[knocking]
Actually, I know who it is.
It's an old friend of mine.
Glad to see you're okay.
I need your help.
[shrieking]
To take vibrations one step further,
she can feel what's underground using her seismic sense.
There's something big, dense and made of metal
deep in the heart of the volcano.
Sounds like a secret bunker to me.
When combining vibrations in the ground
with another person's heartbea,
Toph can easily notice inconsistencies
with their breathing and heartbeats.
In other words, Toph can tell
when someone is lying or telling the truth.
I was a troubled person,
and I let my anger get out of control.
But I don't even have the gang now.
I've put all that behind me.
You're lying!
He's not lying.
How can you tell?
I can feel his breathing and heartbeat.
When people lie, there's a physical reaction.
He's telling the truth.
This isn't good.
You guys go and find Appa. We'll take care of Jet.
We're not going to leave you.
There's no time. Just go. We'll take care of him.
He's our leader.
Don't worry, Katara, I'll be fine.
He's lying.
That wraps up Toph Beifong's skill tree.
Which of Toph's skills is your favorite?
Let us know in the comments.
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Of all the Avatars I've worked with,
you're by far the worst.
I know that's only one other Avatar,
but still.
[shrieking]